Object detecting and locating system



1946- R. H. VARIAN ETAL OBJECT DETECTING AND LOCATING SYSTEM Filed March 25, 1945 FIG! RECEIVER rnmsurrrsn ENVENTORS Patented Get. 8, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE OBJECT DETECTING AND LOCATENG SYSTEM Original application September 30, 1941, Serial Divided and this application March 25, 1943, Serial No. 480,574

.6 Claims. (Cl. 25011) The present application is a division of application Serial No. 412,918, for Object detecting and locating system, filed September 30, 1941.

This invention relates, generally, to the detection and location of objects such as aerial targets and the invention has reference more particularly to a novel apparatus for counteracting the inertia of scanning antenna means whereby a substantially vibrationless rapid mechanical i. e., of the supporting platform 39 and connected parts. This is accomplished by providing weights 49 and it on the bar 32 on opposite sides of the pivot 33. It will be noted that when the bar 32 and attached weights are moving clockwise the reflectors l and l are moving counterclockwise so that the momentum of bar 32 and connected weights serves to counterbalance the momentum of the reflectors l and l and connected parts,

scanning of the antenna means is made possible. whereby there is no vibrating torque applied to The principal object of the present invention the base 39 so that this base does not vibrate as it is to provide novel means for counteracting the would do otherwise. inertia of scanning antenna means whereby sub- Elevational movement of the reflectors is stantially vibrationless rapid scanning is obshown in Fig. 3 accomplished by use of solenoids tained. 57 acting through linkage 58 to oscillate the re- Other objects and advantages will become apflectors about their horizontal axis 59 in the parent from the specification, taken in connecmanner described in the above mentioned Lyman tion with the accompanying drawing wherein the et a1. application. Means are also shown in invention is embodied in concrete form. 3 for compensating the vertical angular momen- Fig. 1 is an elevational view of one form of the tum of the reflectors by use of weights 60 and system of the present invention. 80 mounted on a rod BI and carried by pinion Fig. 2 is a schematic plan view of the structure 62 driven by gear 63 fixed on the pivot 59 so of Fig. 1. that as this pivot turns in one direction the Fig. 3 is a detail elevational view showing weights 60 and 60' are revolved in a reverse dimeans for efiecting elevational scanning. rection thereby compensating for the vertical Referring now more particularly to Figs. 1 and angular momentum of the reflector I or I as 2, the transmitting and receiving reflectors l and the case may be. I are arranged to scan a desired field of View. In order to present an indication of the azi- Azimuthal scanning is accomplished by use of a muthal and elevation angles of the target 4, motor 8 operating a crank disc 9 connected suitable pick-oifs are provided in connection with through spring link 3% to oscillate a bar 32 pivone of the reflectors I and I. Thus, in Fig. 2 oted at 33. Bar 32 is connected by links 34, 34' a potentiometer arm 64 is actuated from link 32' to oscillate levers 35, 35' provided on reflectors which arm moves over a potentiometer 65 conand l. Springs 36 and 36' acting together nected in the manner disclosed in the abovewith springs 31, 3'! and 38, 38' tend to hold the 35 mentioned Lyman application for varying the reflectors I and I in a desired direction, which deflecting potentials on the horizontal deflected is shown in Fig.2 as tending to aim these replates of acathode ray tubeflectors directly ahead. These springs also serve Since many changes could be made in the to return these reflectors to this ahead position above construction and many apparently widely when the actuating force provided by link 30 is 40 different embodiments of this invention could be released. Thus, as crank disc 9 turns the bar made without depart ng from t ope thereof, 32, the connected reflectors l and I' will be given it is intended that all matter contained in the a reciprocatory or substantially simple harmonic above description or shown in the accompanying motion- The tension of the p s drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and 31 and 38, 38' being so adjusted with respect to not in alimiting sense. the mass of the system that a condition of me- What is chimed chemical resonance exists e y greatly ed 1. In an apparatus of the character described ms the p w r necessary o pe a t te a plurality of pivotally mounted reflectors, means type system Fomewhat 5111111311 to this is for oscillating said reflectors about their pivotal dlsclosed- 1n cop end1ng applicatlon of Joseph ymountings, and inertia means connected to said man at Serlal No. 406,494, filed gust 12, oscillating means for counteracting the inertia 1941- W the prese t i nt goe urof said reflectors, whereby vibration of the systher than the Lyman application in that means tem is substantially eliminated. are provided for also greatly reducing or sub- 2. Apparatus of the character described in stantially eliminating vibration of the system, claim 1 wherein said reflectors are normally biased to a desired position by resilient means, said resilient means serving to impart reciprocatory motion to said reflectors and connected parts.

3. In apparatus of the character described; scanning antenna means comprising an antenna reflector, means for pivotally mounting said reflector for universal movement substantially about the focus thereof, resilient means connected for directing said reflector in an initial direction, motive means connected to said reflector for oscillating the same to scan a field netic energy, means for oscillating said radiator, pivotally mounted inertia means, and rotation reversing means connecting said inertia means to said radiator for counteracting the inertia of said radiator means.

6. In combination, a radiator of electromagnetic energy mounted upon first and second transverse i axes and adapted to be oscillated about each of said axes for scanning, a first rotatably mounted, inertia means, having a rotation axis parallel to the first radiator rotation axis. and connected to said radiator for counteracting the inertia of the radiator means with respect to the first axis, and a second inertia means rotatably mounted with a rotation axis parallel to the second radiator rotation axis and connected to said radiator for counteracting the inertia of said radiator means with respect to the second radiator rotation axis.

RUSSELL H. VARIAN. WILLIAM W. HANSEN. JOHN R. WOODYARD. 

